Cliff Peterson

EDRG 4020

Dr. Lund

February 18, 2003

Word Origin Studies

Linking Word Histories and Roots to Word Comprehension

Traditionally students in American schools were taught Greek and Latin root words to help them understand the meanings of words, prefixes and suffixes. In recent years this study has been lost. The study of the meanings of common Greek and Latin root words, prefixes, suffixes and word histories can be helpful to building more extensive reading, writing, and speaking vocabularies in students and adults alike. Some of the words we use daily have interesting histories. By sparking students’ interest in word study, teachers can start a life-long pursuit of word knowledge.

Step by step:

· Sparking an Interest

· The teacher introduces interesting stories about the origins and histories of words as they are encountered

· The teacher must do some research and preparation. Identify key words and look up their origins.

· As the lesson is presented, the teacher tells the word history story or demonstrates the root word meaning.

· The teacher does daily mini-lessons concerning word histories and meanings.

· A bulletin board designed as a word study board is introduced to display research findings.

· Providing Materials for Word Study

· A few books such as dictionaries that include word etymologies, thesauruses, and other word reference materials are provided.

· A format for documenting word research is provided.

· Students are encouraged to display work on bulletin board.

· Celebrating Students’ Efforts

· A time is set forth each day for the discussion of new words the students have researched.

· The teacher prepares a word to be presented each day as well.

· Connecting Word Study to All Areas of Curriculum

· The teacher identifies key vocabulary needed for students’ understanding or reading material and concepts to be studied across the curriculum.

· Key words in science, social studies, math and literature are identified and researched.

· Encouraging Wide Use of the Developing Vocabulary

· Students need to use the new words in multiple ways to comprehend them fully.

· Using vocabulary journals and personal word study notebooks area good ideas.

Most important of all, though, is the provision of time to discuss the word study that is taking place and to celebrate students’ research and use of the new vocabulary.